New Ramblers chief executive Ross Maloney

Campaigning charity the Ramblers has appointed Ross Maloney as its new chief executive.

Mr Maloney joins the walkers’ organisation from the Scouts, where he was deputy chief executive and chief operating officer.

He will start in his new post in July, taking over from Tanya Curry, who has been the Ramblers’ interim chief executive for two years.

The new Ramblers boss has previously served as chief executive of education charity WorldSkills UK. The Ramblers recently launched a rebrand as part of a move, it said, to appeal to all walkers.

Mr Maloney said: “I’m honoured to be joining the Ramblers and being given the opportunity to lead the charity towards a bright future.

“I have long held a passion for the outdoors and especially walking, which I have enjoyed with family and friends throughout my life.

“The rich heritage of the Ramblers and its ambitions really excite me. I am keen to start working with the board of trustees and the staff team to make sure that we do everything we can to enable as many people as possible to enjoy nature on foot, and to maintain our relentless focus on improving our access to open countryside and ensuring our urban and rural path network remains open to all.

“I look forward to working on providing a great experience for Ramblers’ members and volunteers, supporting them to deliver so much of the Ramblers’ work, whether it’s running group walks or protecting and improving hundreds of thousands of miles of well loved paths, tracks, and trails.

“I’m especially passionate about seeking to make the Ramblers accessible to, and reflective of, communities across Great Britain, and I’m pleased to be joining at a time when there is so much opportunity to make that a reality.”

The Ramblers was formed as the Ramblers Association in 1935 at a time of increasing pressure from walkers for access to Britain’s hills, mountains and moorland. It has long campaigned for the rights of walkers to the countryside with recent activities including the Don’t Lose Your Way campaign to record ‘lost’ paths that were, until a government announcement last month, at risk of being permanently blocked from being recorded as legal rights of way.

The recent rebranding with new logos was aimed at widening membership and encouraging a more diverse participation of recreational walkers.

The charity is governed by a board of trustees, with a large degree of devolved autonomy exercised by Ramblers Scotland and Ramblers Cymru.

Chair of the board of trustees Rebecca Dawson said, “I am delighted that Ross is joining the Ramblers. He brings a wealth of experience from his time with the Scouts, and WorldSkills UK, including knowledge of membership organisations with large volunteer bodies, and devolved structures.

“Ross’s enthusiasm for walking and the outdoors will stand him in good stead as he leads our organisation into a future where we make walking accessible to everyone, wherever they live and whatever their background or ability.”

Along with Mr Maloney appointment, three new directors have recently joined the charity’s senior leadership team, which the Ramblers said will bring a stronger strategic focus to the organisation.

Ms Dawson, on behalf of the board, thanked Tanya Curry for her service as interim chief executive.

She said: “We are very grateful to Tanya for her dedication and resilience in leading the Ramblers through what has been a tumultuous two years with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“She and the staff team ensured that as many people as possible could experience the benefit of walking in green spaces, at a time when our mental and physical health needed it most, and the Ramblers is well set up for its next phase of development.”